DHS prayer moms uplift the school environment
DHS moms are sowing seeds of prayer and gardening to uplift the school and its learners. They are appealing for donations of Agapanthus for their next project.
THE power of prayer and determination is shining brightly throughout the grounds of Durban High School (DHS) in Musgrave where a group of moms have been meeting regularly to plant and pray.
The group meets on Thursday mornings, from 07:15 to 08:00, to pray and beautify the school through gardening. The aim is to uplift the mood and learning environment at DHS by enveloping the school with love and the comfort of prayer. The prayer group was formed many years ago under the banner of “Mothers Who Care – SA”, but over time it has evolved to include planting flowers, morning coffee sessions, and tending to the school gardens.
As described by Ruth Smith, one of the group members, “In 2020 and 2021, Covid-19 restrictions prevented us from continuing to meet inside the school premises, but it was also a time in which prayer felt more needed than ever, so we adapted our routine and began walking together around the school as we prayed.” While walking the perimeter of the school, the prayer warriors would see litter and empty grounds that needed to be tended to.
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“Before long, we realised that we could no longer just walk past the rubbish scattered on the pavement, so we began to carry black bags and clean up around the school every week as we walked and prayed. We then began weeding, trimming trees around the school and even planting in areas that were sandy or overgrown, all the while continuing to ‘sow the seeds of prayer’ into our beloved school too,” said Smith.
At the start of 2023, DHS invited the moms to continue their good work inside the school gates. Armed with their gardening tools and no budget to speak of, the resourceful mothers began their unifying journey of improving the school grounds.
Before long, plants were being donated from far and wide. Many came from their own gardens, but they also received donations from other local schools, from parents, friends, teachers and staff at DHS, and even complete strangers. The school principal, Mr Pinheiro, also kindly donated a baobab tree that has been planted in pride of place in front of the school uniform and coffee shop. And they have had amazing support from Mr Pillay, Mr Aylward, and all the ground staff.
The labour of love has become so infectious that the learners of the DHS Environmental Club, under the watchful eye of Saloshnie Parmaswar, have also taken up the task of tending to plants and the greenery. “Gardening is an amazing metaphor for how the care and investment of a community can produce something beautif
ul from just bare soil. For us it is a picture of what has happened at DHS in the last few years as so many different parties have invested in our school – each in their own unique way. We can’t wait to see everything grow and flourish under our care,” said Smith.
To continue their work, the prayer moms are looking for plant donations, especially Agapanthus, for their next project, the large shaded beds along St Thomas Rd by the science block. They are appealing for plants that thrive in the shade and volunteers that would like to be part of the project. For more information or to donate, contact Smith on 083 794 3170 or Ruanda Rochat on 081 771 6150.
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